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Jelly Bean’s offspring Bertie is an cute small “playful character”. The whale Orion – called “Onion” – is a large but guardian-like companion. Another whale, Zephyr has “ants in his pants” and wiggles like a wiggly creature. Lillooet is the “most affectionate” with a gentle spirit.

Thirty enclosed marine mammals in a Canada-based entertainment facility have become pawns in a struggle between a defunct facility, government authorities and advocacy groups.

But those working directly with the whales say the intense discussion over their fate often fails to consider the complexities of the whales who, after growing up in captivity, have been carefully observed by the humans who interact with them daily.

After the federal government blocked the transfer of the belugas to China, the controversial facility near Niagara Falls where they are held warned to euthanize them unless the federal government funds the upkeep of their survival. The nation’s marine resources official has refused that ultimatum, placing the thirty whales in an ever more uncertain position.

Intelligent Sea Creatures

Researchers say that beluga whales’ neural makeup, along with their sound replication, intellectual tasks and social skills suggest they are deeply intelligent animals – something a former trainer learned directly.

She spent several years as a whale caretaker, a position that involved gaining confidence of the aquatic animals.

“Developing those bonds over time takes a lot of dedication and a lot of care. At the beginning, they’re very wary of you,” she said. “Eventually, you gain mutual trust. And they start being more open with you. It’s just so wonderful and fulfilling.”

Burgess knew the whales were very smart, but she says she was nevertheless surprised by the nuances and idiosyncrasies in their dispositions. She formed a special affection for two female belugas with opposing natures.

“Eve chose me. The other demanded work,” she said. “Each transformed the way I perceive relationships.”

Public Concerns and Deteriorating Conditions

Her interaction with the whales evolved against a background of increasing societal concern to their enclosure.

During her tenure at the facility, seven belugas and the park’s one orca, the orca, succumbed. In total, nineteen belugas have died at the park since 2019, a number which the facility links to age-related causes, but which advocates say reflects the substandard environment in which they were housed.

The facility did not open to the visitors over the summer, but Burgess says she saw with her own eyes effects of the cessation. “Concrete is falling apart from the pools because they’re falling apart and not being maintained. The whales are exploratory and so they grab fragments and swim around with chunks in their mouth. It’s upsetting to see.”

The park did not comment to a questionnaire, but in the past claimed: “The whales … receive far superior medical attention and 24/7 supervision than any person in the UK, or elsewhere.”

Uncertain Future and Potential Resolutions

Burgess was fired from the facility in early March following the demise of a beluga, an ailing beluga the employees had to humanely kill. She said the facility believed particulars of the incident were disclosed to the media and she was let go shortly thereafter.

The lack of clarity over the whales’ fate has left Burgess and current and former trainers in despair. She says the facility’s warning to end the lives of its whales is a negotiation tactic and is a “extremely difficult” task, adding any efforts to euthanize even a one beluga would require “immense staff”, equipment and machinery.

“It’s impossible in hell the staff would ever do it,” she said.

Burgess supports requests for the whales to be taken immediately from the facility, with its failing enclosures and shrinking team.

In recent months, Canada’s government official turned down a bid to transfer the whales to an overseas location.

“To approve the request would have meant a ongoing existence in captivity and a return to public entertainment,” the official commented. “As Canadians, we know that whales should be in the wild, not in pools for our enjoyment. I could not in ethical standing approve an export that would prolong the treatment these belugas have endured.”

But the former trainer said the minister’s comments reflect a broader lack of awareness of the facts of life for belugas living their whole lives in enclosures.

“The people needs to grasp these are whales that have spent their whole lives in captivity and they will need constant supervision for the rest of their years,” she said. “Many just don’t realize that it’s not as straightforward as saying ‘close it down’.”

Sanctuary Proposal and Ongoing Debate

As decision makers work to find a solution, proposals have been put forward, some of which have minimal feasibility. An idea called for the belugas to be released into the wilds of the Arctic – where whales are a key source of food for local populations.

A suggested sanctuary in the province of Nova Scotia, which recently received regulatory clearance, has shown to be contentious. The future facility, which includes a large area of enclosed sea water, is not yet built. Supporters remain optimistic that it could ultimately represent a permanent resolution for some of the whales.

But, Burgess says, among trainers she’s spoken with, there is “skepticism there” about what she said is “merely an untested concept” in the whales’ future.

Others say the prospect of a protected habitat reflects a worldwide trend away from captive facilities and could represent a viable approach in the short term.

An official, director of the initiative, said the facility will replicate the intellectual stimulation and feeding regimen the whales obtain from specialists, albeit in a more expansive environment. He said after the health of whales is fully assessed, which could take months|an extended period|